Brief in­tro­duc­tion

Gunter Backes has headed the Department of Organic Plant Breeding and Agricultural Biodiversity since 2013. He studied agricultural sciences in Munich/Weihenstephan and obtained his PhD in plant breeding there. A significant part of his scientific career lies in Denmark, first at the Risø Research Centre near Roskilde, then at the University of Copenhagen. There, ecological plant breeding became an increasingly strong focus of his research.

Profiles

Since 2013University Professor at the University of Kassel and Head of the Section of Organic Plant Breeding and Agricultural Biodiversity
2007–2013Lecturer at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Biosciences, Agricultural Sciences
2005–2006Senior researcher at the Royal Agricultural and Veterinary College, Agricultural Sciences
2004Senior researcher at Risø National Laboratory, Department of Plant Res., Denmark
2001–2004Researcher at Risø National Laboratory, Department of Plant Res., Denmark
1997–2001PostDoc at Risø National Laboratory, Department of Plant Research, Denmark/td>
1995PostDoc at the Chair of Plant Production and Plant Breeding, TU Munich
1995PhD (Dr. agr.) Technical University of Munich, Plant Breeding
1989Degree Dipl.-Ing. agr. Technical University Munich
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  • Methods of (organic) plant breeding
  • Genomic, marker-assisted methods
  • Genetic resources
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Bachelor's degree programme:

  • G21 – Pflanzenernährung und Pflanzenzüchtung [Plant nutrition and plant breeding]
  • H35 – Agrogentechnik [Agrogenetic engineering]

Master's degree programme:

  • L13 – Angewandte Methoden der Pflanzenzüchtung [Applied methods of plant breeding]
  • L32 – Ökologische Pflanzenzüchtung [Organic plant breeding]
  • P07 – Soil and plant sciences
  • P13 – Agrobiodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources

Bachelor's and Master's degree programme:

  • W – Einführung in die praktische Saatgutgewinnung [Introduction to practical seed production]
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Publications

Göransson, M., Hallsson, J. H., Lillemo, M., Orabi, J., Backes, G., Jahoor, A., . . . Bengtsson, T. (2019). Identification of Ideal Allele Combinations for the Adaptation of Spring Barley to Northern Latitudes. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10. doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00542.
Steffan, P. M., Torp, A. M., Borgen, A., Backes, G., & Rasmussen, S. K. (2017). Mapping of common bunt resistance gene Bt9 in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 130, 1031-1040. doi:10.1007/s00122-017-2868-6.
Ingvordsen, C. H., Backes, G., Lyngkjær, M. F., Peltonen-Sainio, P., Jensen, J. D., Jalli, M., . . . Jørgensen, R. B. (2015). Significant decrease in yield under future climate conditions: Stability and production of 138 spring barley accessions. European Journal of Agronomy, 63, 105-113. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2014.12.003.
Hohmann, P., Finckh, M. R., Šiši, A., Ba, J., Coyne, C. J., & Backes, G. (2015). Mycorrhiza-mediated disease resistance – a mini‐review. Proceedings from Workshop on Implementing Plant–Microbe Interaction in Plant Beeding, Munich.
Ingvordsen, C. H., Backes, G., Lyngkjær, M. F., Peltonen-Sainio, P., Jahoor, A., Mikkelsen, T. N., & Jørgensen, R. B. (2015). Genome-wide association study of production and stability traits in barley cultivated under future climate scenarios. Molecular Breeding, 35, 84. doi:10.1007/s11032-015-0283-8.
Nielsen, N. H., Andersen, S. U., Stougaard, J., Jensen, A., Backes, G., & Jahoor, A. (2015). Chromosomal regions associated with the in vitro culture response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) microspores. Plant Breeding, 134, 255-263. doi:10.1111/pbr.12257.
Desta, Z. A., Orabi, J., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2014). Genetic diversity and structure found in samples of Eritrean bread wheat. Plant Genetic Resources, 12, 151-155. doi:10.1017/S1479262113000324.
Nielsen, N. H., Backes, G., Stougaard, J., Andersen, S. U., & Jahoor, A. (2014). Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of European hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. PloS one, 9, e94000. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094000.
Orabi, J., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2014). Changes in allelic frequency over time in European bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties revealed using DArT and SSR markers. Euphytica, 197, 447-462. doi:10.1007/s10681-014-1080-x.
Garkava-Gustavsson, L., Mujaju, C., Sehic, J., Zborowska, A., Backes, G., Hietaranta, T., & Antonius, K. (2013). Genetic diversity in Swedish and Finnish heirloom apple cultivars revealed with SSR markers. Scientia Horticulturae, 162, 43-48. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2013.07.040
Hjortshøj, R. L., Ravnshøj, A. R., Nyman, M., Orabi, J., Backes, G., Pinnschmidt, H., . . . Stukenbrock, E. H. (2012). High levels of genetic and genotypic diversity in field populations of the barley pathogen Ramularia collo-cygni. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 136, 51-60. doi:10.1007/s10658-012-0137-8.
Shu, X., Backes, G., & Rasmussen, S. K. (2012). Genome-wide Association Study of Resistant Starch (RS) Phenotypes in a Barley Variety Collection. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60, 10302-10311. doi:10.1021/jf3031875.
Lammerts van Bueren, E. T., Backes, G., de Vriend, H., & Østergård, H. (2010). The role of molecular markers and marker assisted selection in breeding for organic agriculture. Euphytica, 175, 51-64. doi:10.1007/s10681-010-0169-0.
Finnie, C., Bagge, M., Steenholdt, T., Østergaard, O., Bak-Jensen, K. S., Backes, G., . . . Svensson, B. (2009). Integration of the barley genetic and seed proteome maps for chromosome 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H and 7H. Functional & integrative genomics, 9, 135-143. doi:10.1007/s10142-008-0101-z.
Lababidi, S., Mejlhede, N., Rasmussen, S. K., Backes, G., Al-Said, W., Baum, M., & Jahoor, A. (2009). Identification of barley mutants in the cultivar “Lux” at the Dhn loci through tilling. Plant Breeding, 332-336. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.2009.01640.x.
Backes, G., Orabi, J., Wolday, A., Yahyaoui, A., & Jahoor, A. (2009). High genetic diversity revealed in barley (Hordeum vulgare) collected from small-scale farmer’s fields in Eritrea. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 56, 85-97. doi:10.1007/s10722-008-9347-5.
Orabi, J., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2009). Genetic diversity and population structure of wild and cultivated barley from West Asia and North Africa. Plant Breeding, 128, 606-614. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.2009.01637.x.
Backes, G., & Østergard, H. (2008). Molecular markers to exploit genotype-environment interactions of relevance in organic growing systems. Euphytica, 163, 523-531. doi:10.1007/s10681-008-9729-y.
Orabi, J., Backes, G., Wolday, A., Yahyaoui, A., & Jahoor, A. (2007). The Horn of Africa as a centre of barley diversification and a potential domestication site. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 114, 1117-1127. doi:10.1007/s00122-007-0505-5.
Mejlhede, N., Kyjovska, Z., Backes, G., Burhenne, K., Rasmussen, S. K., & Jahoor, A. (2006). EcoTILLING for the identification of allelic variation in the powdery mildew resistance genes mlo and Mla of barley. Plant Breeding, 125, 461-467. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.2006.01226.x.
Grando, S., Baum, M., Ceccarelli, S., Goodchild, A., El-Haramein, F. J., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2005). QTLs for straw quality characteristics identified in recombinant inbred lines of a Hordeum vulgare x H. spontaneum cross in a Mediterranean environment. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 110. doi:10.1007/s00122-004-1894-3.
Sayed, H., Backes, G., Kayyal, H., Yahyaoui, A., Ceccarelli, S., Grando, S., . . . Baum, M. (2004). New molecular markers linked to qualitative and quantitative powdery mildew and scald resistance genes in barley for dry areas. Euphytica, 135, 225-228. doi:10.1023/B:EUPH.0000014939.83612.a0.
Backes, G., Hatz, B., Jahoor, A., & Fischbeck, G. (2003). RFLP diversity within and between major groups of barley in Europe. Plant Breeding, 122, 291-299. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0523.2003.00810.x.
Baum, M., Grando, S., Backes, G., Jahoor, A., Sabbagh, A., & Ceccarelli, S. (2003). QTLs for agronomic traits in the Mediterranean environment identified in recombinant inbred lines of the cross ‘Arta’ x H. spontaneum 41-1. TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik, 107, 1215-1225. doi:10.1007/s00122-003-1357-2.
Backes, G., Madsen, L. H. L. H., Jaiser, H., Stougaard, J., Herz, M., Mohler, V., & Jahoor, A. (2003). Localisation of genes for resistance against Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei and Puccinia graminis in a cross between a barley cultivar and a wild barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) line. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 106, 353-362. doi:10.1007/s00122-002-1148-1.
Madsen, L. H., Collins, N. C., Rakwalska, M., Backes, G., Sandal, N., Krusell, L., . . . Stougaard, J. (2003). Barley disease resistance gene analogs of the NBS-LRR class: identification and mapping. Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG, 269, 150-161. doi:10.1007/s00438-003-0823-5.
Jensen, J., Backes, G., Skinnes, H., & Giese, H. (2002). Quantitative trait loci for scald resistance in barley localized by a non-interval mapping procedure. Plant Breeding, 121, 124-128. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0523.2002.00685.x.
Kicherer, S., Backes, G., Walther, U., & Jahoor, A. (2000). Localising QTLs for leaf rust resistance and agronomic traits in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 100, 881-888. doi:10.1007/s001220051365.
Backes, G., Schwarz, G., Wenzel, G., & Jahoor, A. (1996). Comparison between QTL analysis of powdery mildew resistance in barley based on detached primary leaves and on field data. Plant Breeding, 115, 419-421. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.1996.tb00946.x.
Backes, G., Graner, A., Foroughi-Wehr, B., Fischbeck, G., Wenzel, G., & Jahoor, A. (1995). Localization of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for agronomic important characters by the use of a RFLP map in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 90, 294-302. doi:10.1007/BF00222217.
Schüller, C., Backes, G., Fischbeck, G., & Jahoor, A. (1992). RFLP markers to identify the alleles on the Mla locus conferring powdery mildew resistance in barley. Theor Appl Genet, 84(3-4), 330-338. doi:10.1007/BF00229491.
Jahoor, A., Backes, G., Graner, A., Herrmann, R. G., & Fischbeck, G. (1991). Development of RFLP markers for barley. Plant Breeding, 107, 73-76. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0523.1991.tb00530.x
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Jihad, O., Eriksen, L., Andersen, J. R., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2013). Whole genome association mapping of yellow rust resistance in normal and synthetic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Proceedings from Proceedings fo the 12th International Wheat Genetics Symposium.
Backes, G., Jensen, J., and Jahoor, A. (2000). Localising QTLs for malting quality traits in barley, 8th International Barley Genetics Symposium (pp. 217–219).
Orabi, J., Eriksen, L., Andersen, J. R., Jørgensen, L. N., Jahoor, A., & Backes, G. (2013). Association mapping in complex sznthetic and common hexaploid wheat collection using DArT markers. Proceedings from Pre-Breeding - fishing in the gene pool. Abstracts of oral presentations and posters of the European Plant Genetic Resources Conference 2013, Alnarp, Sweden.
Orabi, J., Starr, G., Møller Jespersen, B. P., & Backes, G. (2013). A large scale association study for aroma wheat components in bread wheat. Proceedings from Pre-Breeding - fishing in the gene pool. Abstracts of oral presentations and posters of the European Plant Genetic Resources Conference 2013, Alnarp, Sweden.
Grando, S., Backes, G., Ceccarelli, S., Sabbagh, A., Jahoor, A., & Baum, M. (2000). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for agronomic traits in recombinant inbred lines of the cross Arta x H. spontaneum 41-1. Proceedings from 8. International Barley Genetics Symposium, Adelaide.
Backes, G., Jensen, J., & Jahoor, A. (2000). Localising QTLs for malting quality traits in barley. Proceedings from 8th International Barley Genetics Symposium, Adelaide.
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Backes, G. (2018). Pflanzenzüchtung. In M. Wachendorf, A. Bürkert, & R. Graß (Eds.), Ökologische Agrarwissenschaft (pp. 11-21). Stuttgart: Verlag Eugen Ulmer.
Backes, G., Orabi, J., Fischbeck, G., Jahoor, A., and Kole, C., Barley, in Genome Mapping and Backes, G. (2013). TILLING and ecoTILLING. In T. Lübberstedt & R. K. Varshney (Eds.), Diagnostics in Plant Breeding (pp. 145-165). Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5687-8
Backes, G., Orabi, J., Fischbeck, G., Jahoor, A., & Kole, C. (2006). Barley. In C. Kole (Ed.), Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants (pp. 155-210). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.
Jahoor, A., Eriksen, L., Backes, G., Gupta, P. K., & Varshney, R. K. (2004). QTLs and genes for disease resistance in barley and wheat. In P. K. Gupta & R. K. Varshney (Eds.), Cereal Genomics (pp. 199-251). Dordrecht, Boston, London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Baum, M., Grando, S., Ceccarelli, S., Backes, G., & Jahoor, A. (2004). Localization of quantitative trait loci for dryland characters in barley by linkage mapping. In S. C. Rao & J. Ryan (Eds.), Challenges and Strategies for Dryland Agriculture (pp. 191-202). Madison, USA: Crop Science Society of America.
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